100 percent renewable for south korea

8/16/2019 100 Percent Renewable for South Korea

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August 2012

Margaux CHANALResearch Associate, Global Energy Network Institute (GENI)

[email protected]

Under the supervision of and edited by

Peter MeisenPresident, Global Energy Network Institute (GENI)

www.geni.org [email protected] (619) 595-0139

GENI How is 100% Renewable Energy Possible in

South Korea by 2020?

http://www.geni.org/http://www.geni.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.geni.org/


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Table of ContentsAbstract ................................................................................................................................................... 5

I. Presentation of South Korea ............................................................................................................ 6

1. South Korea background ............................................................................................................. 6

a. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 6

b. International organization memberships ................................................................................. 7

2. Background with renewable energies .......................................................................................... 9

a. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 9

b. Wind power ............................................................................................................................. 9

c. Hydropower and tidal ............................................................................................................ 11

3. The energy issue ........................................................................................................................ 13

4. 100% clean energy? ................................................................................................................... 13

II. Energy profile of South Korea ...................................................................................................... 14

1. Energy sources .......................................................................................................................... 14

a. Oil .......................................................................................................................................... 14

b. Natural Liquefied Gas ........................................................................................................... 16

c. Nuclear power ....................................................................................................................... 16

2. Energy demand .......................................................................................................................... 17

3. CO2 emissions ............................................................................................................................ 18

4. Energy demand in 2020 ............................................................................................................. 20

III. Current Renewable Energy........................................................................................................ 21

1. Wind farms ................................................................................................................................ 22

2. Others ........................................................................................................................................ 23

3. Renewable Energy Potential for South Korea ........................................................................... 24

a. Wind capacity ........................................................................................................................ 24

b. Solar capacity ........................................................................................................................ 25

c. Hydro ..................................................................................................................................... 27

d. Tidal – Ocean ........................................................................................................................ 28

e. Biomass ................................................................................................................................. 29

f. Geothermal ............................................................................................................................ 30

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 31

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………… .. 32


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Table of Figures

F igure 1 : World map and position of South

Korea………………………………………………….6

F igure 2: Map of South Korea…………………………………………………………………………7

F igure 3: Import partners of South Kor ea……………………………………………………………8

F igure 4: Part of renewable energy, 2009…………………………………………………………...9

F igure 5: Wind power plants installed ca pacity…………………………………………………...10

F igure 6: Map of Korea’s wind farm………………………………………………………………..10

F igure 7: Hydroelectric power plants……………………………………………………………….11

F igure 8: Cheongpyeong Hydro Power Plant……………………………………………………...11

F igure 9: Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, construction………………………………………...12

F igure 10: Position of South Korea on oil imports………………………………………………..14

F igure 11: Korea oil consumption…………………………………………………………………..15

F igure 12: Diff erent uses of oil………………………………………………………………………15

F igure 13: Gas consumption South Korea from 2000 to 2010…………………………………..16

F igure 14: Electricity and Heat in Republic of Korea, 2009…………………………………….17

F igure 15: Electricity Generation by Type, South Korea…………………………………………17

F igure 16: Final consumption by sector…………………………………………………………….18

F igure 17: CO2 emissions by Fuel, 1973 t o 2004………………………………………………….19

F igure 18: CO2 emissions by sector, 1973 to 2004………………………………………………..19

F igure 19: Link between growth population and rising energy consumption………………….20

F igure 20: Mapping renewable electricity generation……………………………………………21

F igure 21: Renewable energy targets by 2030 by source………………………………………...22

F igure 22: Electricity generated from geothermal sources………………………………………23

F igure 23: Electricity generated from h ydro……………………………………………………….23

F igure 24: Proportion of new and renewable energy ( %)………………………………………..24


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F igure 25: Wind power evolution – South Korea………………………………………………….25

F igure 26: Solar PV Capacity, Top 10 countr ies, 2010………………………………………….26

F igure 27: Global horizontal solar radiation – Asia……………………………………………..26

F igure 28: structure of electricity production from renewables – 2010………………………..27

F igure 29: Shihwa Lake Tidal Power Pl ant………………………………………………………..28

F igure 30: Future Tidal power plants in South Korea……………………………………………29

F igure 31: Heat Flow Distribution map of South Korea…………………………………………30


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Abstract

Replacing oil, coal or gas with clean energies has become one of the most crucial

issues that the world faces. 77% of the energy demand could be filled by renewable energy by

2050. About half of the renewable energy potential is operating and 2.5% of the technical

potential in renewable energy use has been mastered, that’s why any question of the

possibility of using clean energy is not justified.

South Korea is a country without many primary resources; the country imports most of

its energy. It is one of the 5 biggest importers of fuel fossil energy in the world. To be less

dependent on foreign countries includes reducing these imports, so the part played by using

renewable energy has to be increased. Moreover, the greenhouse gases emissions have to be

reduced or at least the rise of such emissions has to be stopped. To this end, the country has planned to invest more in green energies, such as tidal and ocean power, wind and solar

power, or hydro.


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I. Presentation of South Korea

1. South Korea background

a. Introduction

The Republic of Korea (RoK) is located in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula (see

Figure 1 and 2). It occupies 98,480 square kilometers and has a 238 km boundary with North

Korea. The country also includes about 3,000 mostly small, uninhabited islands. RoK, with a

population of 48 million, about 85% of which live in urban areas, is a mountainous country,

with lowlands accounting for only 30% of the total land area. The climate is temperate, with

rainfall heavier in summer than in winter. In 2003, Seoul’s population of 10.3 million people

(excluding greater metropolitan areas) made it the world’s most populated city. Other large

cities include Pusan (3.8 million), Inchon (2.6 million), Daegu (2.5 million), Daejeon (1.4

million) and Gwangju (1.4 million).

Figur e 1: South Korea on Earth 1

1 World map, http://www.mapsnworld.com/korea/where-is-korea.html

http://www.mapsnworld.com/korea/where-is-korea.htmlhttp://www.mapsnworld.com/korea/where-is-korea.htmlhttp://www.mapsnworld.com/korea/where-is-korea.htmlhttp://www.mapsnworld.com/korea/where-is-korea.html


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Fi gure 2: Map of South Korea 2

b. International organization memberships

South Korea imports many primary energy sources. With a lack in natural resources,

South Korea has a high dependence on imports. As a major energy importer, which includes

oil, natural gas and coal, 3 South Korea is the 4th largest importer of oil in the world, the 3rd

largest importer of coal, and the 2nd largest importer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

2 http://koreanpeacetalks.edublogs.org/ 3”U.S Energy Information Administration”, South Korea http://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KS

http://koreanpeacetalks.edublogs.org/http://koreanpeacetalks.edublogs.org/http://koreanpeacetalks.edublogs.org/http://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://koreanpeacetalks.edublogs.org/


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Figure 3: import partners of South Korea 4

South Korea is a member of several worldwide organizations, such as Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development(EBRD), International Energy Agency (IEA), Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO). 5 As a membership of these

organizations, South Korea helps to create new policies, which includes facing global

warming.

4Author, inspired by

“South Korea, Import & Trade”, http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-

korea/export-import.html 5

Central Intelligence Agency, “South Korea”, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-korea/export-import.htmlhttp://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-korea/export-import.htmlhttp://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-korea/export-import.htmlhttp://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-korea/export-import.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.htmlhttp://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-korea/export-import.htmlhttp://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/south-korea/export-import.html


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2.

Background with renewable energies

a. Introduction

South Korea has not been a model when it comes to renewable energy. In fact, they did

not sign the Kyoto Protocol, but despite that, have decided to make efforts. The government

in South Korea decided in July 2008 to increase investment in renewable energy. They

wanted especially to reduce the dependence on foreign oil imports. To accomplish this, the

Ministry of Knowledge and Economy decided to spend $195 million on technologies and

projects, including solar, wind and biofuels.

Figure 4: part of r enewable energies in 2009 6

b. Wind power

Wind energy in South Korea is still in its infancy, but the Korean government has made

“green growth” with low carbon emissions one of its priorities for national development. The

existing feed-in tariff, which was too low to support wind power development, was recently

replaced with a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) scheme. In addition, several Korean

heavy manufacturers have started to include wind turbines in their portfolios to compete both

domestically and in the international marketplace. 7

6 International Energy Agency, ”Balance for Republic of Korea”, 2009,

http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KR 7

Global Wind Energy Council , “South Korea” http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177

http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KRhttp://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KRhttp://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177http://www.iea.org/stats/balancetable.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KR


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Thirty two wind farms have been installed in South Korea. The figure below shows Total

Installed Capacity in MegaWatts (MW)

0

100

200

300

400

TOTAL INSTALLED CAPACITY (MW)

TOTAL INSTALLED

CAPACITY (MW)

Figur e 5: evoluti on of wind power use 8

Figur e 6 : Map of wind farms, South Korea 9

8Author, inspired by http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177

9 Wind turbines and wind farms database, “South Korea”,

http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_23_south-korea.php

http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=177


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c. Hydropower and tidal

The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was founded in 2001. It provides hydroelectric plants

in South Korea and is responsible for 40% of the country’s electric power supply. It runs 27

hydro power units through South Korea with a generating capacity reaching 540 MW.

Figur e 7: H ydroelectric Power Plants, South Korea 10

Figur e 8: Cheongpyeong Hydro Power Plant 11

10KHNP, http://www.khnp.co.kr/en/030201

11 http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/

http://www.khnp.co.kr/en/030201http://www.khnp.co.kr/en/030201http://www.khnp.co.kr/en/030201http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/http://tribune.com.pk/story/320451/hydropower-project-south-korea-announces-largest-investment-yet/http://www.khnp.co.kr/en/030201


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South Korea has installed the largest tidal power installation, Sihwa Lake Tidal

Power Station. The massive hydropower generator can generate up to 254 MW of

hydroelectricity. It became fully operational in 2001. 12

Figur e 9: Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, construction 13

12 Koreascene,” Sihwa lake tidal power Station”, http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-

largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/ 13

http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/

http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/http://www.koreascene.com/sihwa-lake-tidal-power-station-the-largest-tidal-power-station-in-the-world-2/


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3.

The energy issue

Renewable energy is a crucial issue because of the consequences it includes:

Energy security: many countries have to reduce their dependence to oil and increasetheir energy independence.

Environmental benefits: the world has to reduce environmental impacts. Biodiversity

must be preserved, and greenhouses emissions must be regulated.

Economy – jobs: new investments and new facilities to provide clean energy creates

jobs and fuels the local economy.

4.

100% clean energy?

South Korea aims to be a net exporter of clean energy. From 2005 to 2010, its renewable

energy capacity grew by 88%. Its total investment in the renewable energy field in 2010 was

US$356 million, particularly in wind and solar technologies. By 2015, South Korea aims to

be one of the five best users of renewable energies.

“The South Korea government has given out tariff and tax exemptions for penetration of

these technologies, and there is a bigger focus in organizing the industries to cater to itsmarkets as well as emerging demands. That’s the difference between what South Korea is

doing and what others are doing”14, says Ravi Krishnaswamy, Frost&Sullivan’s vice-

president for energy practice.

14 South Korea aims to be net exporter of clean energy,

http://www.greenprospectsasia.com/content/south-korea-aims-be-net-exporter-clean-energy

http://www.greenprospectsasia.com/content/south-korea-aims-be-net-exporter-clean-energyhttp://www.greenprospectsasia.com/content/south-korea-aims-be-net-exporter-clean-energyhttp://www.greenprospectsasia.com/content/south-korea-aims-be-net-exporter-clean-energy


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II. Energy profile of South Korea

1. Energy sources

a. Oil

South Korea must import all of its crude oil because of the lack of domestic oil reserves.

Most of South Korea’s oil imports come f rom the Persian Gulf. South Korea produces less

than 0.4% of its own consumption as seen in this chart below.

Figur e 10: Positi on of South Korea in oi l imports 15

Compared to most IEA countries, Korea uses a very large share of oil for the industrial

sector, over 40% of all oil consumed, nearly double the IEA average. 15

15 http://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption

16“Energy Profile of South Korea”, http://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_South_Korea

http://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumptionhttp://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumptionhttp://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumptionhttp://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_South_Koreahttp://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_South_Koreahttp://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_South_Koreahttp://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_South_Koreahttp://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption


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b. Natural Liquefied Gas

Natural Gas consumption of South Korea has doubled over the past decades. From 2009

to 2010, it increased 25%.

South Korea is the second largest importer of LNG in the world after Japan. 19 The largest

use of that gas is for power generation - electricity (42% in 2004). Currently, the policy is to

increase use of nuclear power to offset a decline of gas consumption – meaning gas imports.

Figur e 13: Gas consumption South Korea fr om 2000 to 2010 20

c. Nuclear power

Nuclear energy provides nearly 40% of Korea’s electricity supply. Twenty three nuclear

units are in operation on four sites. All nuclear power plants are owned by Korea Hydro and

Nuclear Power. 21

According to Korean data, nuclear generated electricity is the country’s cheapest availableelectricity option. The total generation cost is about KRW (South Korean Won,

1KRW=0.0009 US dollar) 40 per kWh (Kilo Watt Hour), compared to 42 for coal, 57 for

hydro and 80 for gas.

19 “South Korea”, http://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KS 20 http://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.html 21

KHNP, http://www.khnp.co.kr/index_en.jsp

http://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KShttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.khnp.co.kr/index_en.jsphttp://www.khnp.co.kr/index_en.jsphttp://www.khnp.co.kr/index_en.jsphttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://205.254.135.7/countries/cab.cfm?fips=KS


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Figur e 14: El ectricity and Heat in the Republic of Korea, 2009 22

Nuclear energy remains a strategic priority for South Korea, and capacity is planned to

increase by 56% to 27.3 GWe (GigaWatt electricity) by 2020, and then to 43 GWe by 2030.

2. Energy demand

Power demand in South

Korea has increased by 9% peryear since 1990 but slowed by

2.8% between 2006 and 2010

and is projected to slow by 2.5%

to 2020.23

Figur e 15: Electricity Generation by

Type, South Korea 24

22 Author, inspired by http://www.iea.org/stats/electricitydata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KR 23

World Nuclear Association, “Nuclear Power in South Korea”, http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf81.html

24 http://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.html

http://www.iea.org/stats/electricitydata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KRhttp://www.iea.org/stats/electricitydata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KRhttp://www.iea.org/stats/electricitydata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KRhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf81.htmlhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf81.htmlhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf81.htmlhttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.eia.gov/cabs/South_Korea/Full.htmlhttp://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf81.htmlhttp://www.iea.org/stats/electricitydata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=KR


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In 2005, Korea’s total electricity generation was over 365 TWh (TeraWatt hour). The

country has over 60 000 MW of installed electricity capacity, which is split between six

different companies and independent power producers. Nuclear, coal and LNG each make up

more than a quarter of total capacity.

Non-energy use

Other

Transport

Industry

Figur e 16: F inal consumption by sector

25

3. CO2 emissions

Energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide have grown dramatically in recent years, more

than doubling between 1990 and 2004, equivalent to an average annual growth rate of 5.2%.

25 http://iea.org/stats/pdf_graphs/KROIL.pdf

http://iea.org/stats/pdf_graphs/KROIL.pdfhttp://iea.org/stats/pdf_graphs/KROIL.pdfhttp://iea.org/stats/pdf_graphs/KROIL.pdfhttp://iea.org/stats/pdf_graphs/KROIL.pdf


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Fi gure 17: CO 2 emissions by Fuel, 1973 to 2004 26

Fi gure 18: CO 2 emissions by sector , 1973 to 2004 27

The CO2 emissions in South Korea increased by 11.5% between 1946 and 1997,

which made South Korea the tenth largest emitter of C02 in the whole world. Nearly half of

those emissions were due to coal consumption (46.9%). Oil consumption since 2004 and even

now has become the main source of carbon dioxide emissions. When South Korea increased

its LNG imports, natural gas also became an important contributor of CO2 emissions.28

26 http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf 27

http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf

28 Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, “South Korea Fossil-Fuel CO2 emissions”,

http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_rok.html

http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdfhttp://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdfhttp://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdfhttp://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf%2021http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf%2021http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf%2021http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf%2021http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_rok.htmlhttp://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_rok.htmlhttp://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_rok.htmlhttp://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf%2021http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf%2021http://iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/korea2006.pdf


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4.

Energy demand in 2020

South Korea’s population reached more than 48 million in 2012 at growth rate estimated

at 0.23% annually. At that rate, South Korea would add 110,000 more people in 2013. More

generally, as we can see on Figure 19, when the population increases, the energy demandincreases too. That means that Korea’s energy demand will increase accordingly as

population grows.

Figur e 19: l ink between growth population and ri sing energy consumption 29

29 http://www.worldenergy.org/

http://www.worldenergy.org/http://www.worldenergy.org/http://www.worldenergy.org/http://www.worldenergy.org/


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III. Current Renewable Energy

South Korea has the lowest level of renewable energy among the IEA countries.

Figur e 20: Mapping renewable electricity generation 30

The largest share of renewable energy is from hydropower and wind. In 2009, Korea

generated about 417 Billion kWh of net electricity. Roughly 1% came from renewable energy,

and in 2010, 2.4% of the energy produced came from renewable energy.

South Korea wants to make its renewable sector one of the country’s priorities d espite

the current minimal investment given, just $20 million in 2009, placing it 19th among G-20

members.

In 2012, the target of share of primary and final energy from renewables is 4.3% by2015, 6.1% by 2020 and 11% by 2030.31

30 http://geocurrents.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renewable-Energy-by-County-Map.jpg 31 Renewables 2012, « global status and reports », http://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdf

http://geocurrents.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renewable-Energy-by-County-Map.jpghttp://geocurrents.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renewable-Energy-by-County-Map.jpghttp://geocurrents.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renewable-Energy-by-County-Map.jpghttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://geocurrents.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Renewable-Energy-by-County-Map.jpg


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Figure 21: Renewable energy targets by 2030 by source 32

1. Wind farms

South Korea wants to become one of the three best world wind power generationcountries. So the governmemt has announced that the offshore wind farms that are going to be

installed by 2019 will be capable of producing the same amount of electricity as two nuclear

power plants. It represent a $8.2 billion investment. First, 100 MW of electricity will be

generated by 2013 thanks to wind farms with 20 turbines of 5 MW capacity each. After that,

the total capacity will reach 900 MW by 2016 and 2,500 MW by 2019.

32 Author, inspired by http://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdf

http://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdfhttp://www.map.ren21.net/GSR/GSR2012_low.pdf


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2.

Others

Geothermal energy plays a negligible part in South Korea, whereas hydro generation

represents 40% of the country’s energy supply. The following map shows the world

electricity generated by geothermal and by hydro.

Figur e 22: Electricity generated f rom geothermal sources 33

Figur e 23 : El ectricity generated from hydro 34

33 http://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mapped

34 http://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mapped

http://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mappedhttp://geocurrents.info/geonotes/renewable-electricity-production-mapped


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3.

Renewable Energy Potential for South Korea

The government of South Korea aims to produce 6.1% of energy from renewables by

2020. There is a strong sense of willingness to accelerate renewable energy development.

They also want to reach the target “one million green homes” with PV, solar ther mal or windinstallations on 1 million houses.

Figur e 24: Proportion of new and renewable energy (%) 35

a. Wind capacity

It is estimated that South Korea has wind power potential of 186.5 TWh per year. In

2010, the installed capacity was about 350 MW. According to the wind power website, the

wind energy capacity was 407 MW at the end of the year 2011, which represents a 7.4 % rise

over the previous year.

35 http://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1107_04.html

http://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1107_04.htmlhttp://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1107_04.htmlhttp://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1107_04.htmlhttp://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1107_04.html


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25

Figur e 25: Wind power evolu tion – South Korea 36

The evolution that can be seen in figure 24 shows that if the increase of wind power

generation continues, South Korea is about to get involved in a major way.37 As of August

2012, an offshore project is about to start and includes 500 turbines, providing a total of 1.5

GW. 38 An agreement has recently been signed between South Korea and UK to increase wind

energy trades. The South Korean government is currently exploring the country to find

locations for further suitable sites for the expansion of offshore wind power sites.

b. Solar capacity

In 2011, South Korea’s market of solar power represented a tiny part of the global market

(0.1 GW) and declined for the second year in a row. 39 In 2011, the renewable energy target

for solar PV was 1.3MW by 2012. An incredible project has been led successfully on the

Korean Island of Donggwang on the western half of Jedu-do. This has been a technological

feat: total energy independence with clean technology. Each house has solar panels on it;

schools are independent in energy, thanks to free electric energy from the sun.40

36 http://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.php 37

Wind power and wind farms database, « South Korea », http://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.php 39 Earth Techling, “Clean Energy, A Big Future Focus Of South Korea”,http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/06/clean-energy-a-big-future-focus-of-south-korea/ 40

Renewables 2011, Global Status Report,http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdf 41 New energy blog, Solar System Powers Donggwang Green Village,http://newenergy08.blogspot.com/2008/06/solar-system-powers-donggwang-green.html

http://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.earthtechling.com/2012/06/clean-energy-a-big-future-focus-of-south-korea/http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/06/clean-energy-a-big-future-focus-of-south-korea/http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdfhttp://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdfhttp://newenergy08.blogspot.com/2008/06/solar-system-powers-donggwang-green.htmlhttp://newenergy08.blogspot.com/2008/06/solar-system-powers-donggwang-green.htmlhttp://newenergy08.blogspot.com/2008/06/solar-system-powers-donggwang-green.htmlhttp://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdfhttp://www.earthtechling.com/2012/06/clean-energy-a-big-future-focus-of-south-korea/http://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.phphttp://www.thewindpower.net/country_en_23_south-korea.php


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Figur e 26: Solar PV Capacity, Top 10 countr ies, 2010 42

According to the Ministry of Economy, solar panels should have been installed on

60% of households by 2012.

Figur e 27: Global horizontal solar radiati on – Asia 43

Figure 27 show that South Korea clearly has a potential for solar electricity generation.

42http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdf

43 http://en.openei.org/w/index.php?title=File:NREL-asia-glo.pdf&page=1

http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdfhttp://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdfhttp://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdfhttp://en.openei.org/w/index.php?title=File:NREL-asia-glo.pdf&page=1http://en.openei.org/w/index.php?title=File:NREL-asia-glo.pdf&page=1http://en.openei.org/w/index.php?title=File:NREL-asia-glo.pdf&page=1http://en.openei.org/w/index.php?title=File:NREL-asia-glo.pdf&page=1http://www.ren21.net/Portals/97/documents/GSR/REN21_GSR2011.pdf


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27

c. Hydropower

Currently, 16% of the electricity produced in the world comes from hydropower plants, and

just one third of the economical potential has been installed. Considering technically,

economically and environmentally realistic conditions, countries could produce twice as muchas they currently produce. Hydro electricity represents a well known technology and could

fulfill rising energy needs. Moreover, the highest potential of hydroelectricity left is located in

developing countries in Asia and Africa. 44

There are many advantages to producing electricity by hydropower:

- This energy is natural and green

- No emissions of greenhouse gases are produced

- It does not cost too much money

-

About 90% of the water energy is transformed into mechanic energy, a high yield

Hydroelectricity is currently the main renewable source of power generation (71.8% of the

renewable production) as shown on next graph: 45

Figur e 28: structure of electricity production f rom r enewables – 2010 46

44 Hydro-electric power, http://www.groept.be/www/dam/HYDROpower.htm 45

“South Korea”, www.energies-renouvelables.org 46

Author, inspired by www.energies-renouvelables.org

http://www.groept.be/www/dam/HYDROpower.htmhttp://www.groept.be/www/dam/HYDROpower.htmhttp://www.groept.be/www/dam/HYDROpower.htmhttp://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/http://www.groept.be/www/dam/HYDROpower.htm


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Figur e 30: Fu ture Tidal power plants in South Korea 48

e. Biomass

The Knowledge & Economy Minister of South Korea declared in 2008 that biomass and

bioenergy was going to be “the most important and useful among new sources of renewable

energy for a significant time in the future.”49 In 2007, biomass as a portion of renewable

energy was about 6.0%, and the government wants to increase it to more than 30% by 2030.

The forests represent 63% of the Korean landscape. In 2010, the government decided to build

8 wood pellets plants.

48 http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/

49Biopact, South Korea Minister : “biomass most important of all renewables”,

http://news.mongabay.com/bioenergy/2008/09/south-korea-minister-biomass-most.html

http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/http://news.mongabay.com/bioenergy/2008/09/south-korea-minister-biomass-most.htmlhttp://news.mongabay.com/bioenergy/2008/09/south-korea-minister-biomass-most.htmlhttp://news.mongabay.com/bioenergy/2008/09/south-korea-minister-biomass-most.htmlhttp://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/http://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-special-reports/south-koreas-plans-for-tidal-power-when-a-green-solution-creates-more-problems/


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f. Geothermal

The figure below shows the distribution of heat flow in the Republic of Korea from

geothermal energy. The country has a huge potential in geothermal for low temperature. 50

Fi gure 31: H eat Fl ow Distribution map of South Korea 51

According to the International Geothermal Association data, South Korea has an installed

capacity of geothermal of 229.3 MW with a capacity factor of 0.27. This quantity of energy is

produced thanks to 3,000 units all over the country.

50 Characteristics of Geothermal Anomaly in South Korea, http://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdf 51 http://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdf

http://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdfhttp://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2005/0643.pdf


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Conclusion

South Korea has a huge potential in renewable energy and could fill the demand with

such clean energies. They know how to exploit its potential; investments are rising to providegreen electricity production. The biggest challenge is to respond to the growing demand for

energy from the increase in population. There are 2 more people on Earth every second. To

cope with this increase, countries and government have to change there energies habits. Even

if the Republic of Korea did not sign the Kyoto protocol, they are ready to make efforts.

South Korea is 97% dependent on foreign imports, and uses 83% of fossil energies.

Nuclear energy takes a huge part in the share of energies. The government wants to increase

the percentage of nuclear power generation by 35%. The situation is getting worse. That’s

why the government leans more towards clean energy.

Projects such as the huge solar power plant installation in South West Korea that can

provide electricity for 10,000 houses are successful initiatives. Korea has decided also to bet

on wind farms: the government is seeking 10% share of the global market for wind power

production. The Korean territory counts the biggest tidal power plant of the world and 500

turbines are going to be installed before 2019.

How is 100% renewable energy possible in South Korea by 2020? All the natural

resources have to be exploited: the west coast should be the primary source of wind power

and offshore wind. The solar radiation in South Korea is not the best, but it is enough to make

entire villages so energy efficient that they could become autonomous. Hydropower is themain renewable source of the country, but half of its potential is unexploited. Every source of

renewable energy offers prospects. Partnerships with other countries can be the solution,

because it could share and reduce the costs. The first step was to become aware that the

situation is urgent, and now that that’s done, South Korea is in position to respond.


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100 percent renewable for south korea

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